Automatic control system



Jan. 6, 1931. .1. w. BRYCE 1, 19

AUTOMATIC CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Jan. 24, 1928 :75mes MBn cQe /7/' a MM 1 W Patented Jan. 6, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE JAMES W. BRYCE, OF BLOOMIIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE TAIBULATING IA- CHIN E COMPANY, OF ENDICOTT, NEW YORK, A GORIPORATION .OF NEW JERSEY AUTOMATIC CONTROL SYSTEM Application filed war 192a. Serial No. 249,192.

The invention relates to accounting;ma chines and more particularly to automatic control systems for record controlledtabulators. a

Record controlled tabulators are designed" cally entered in the machine from control records on which the items are represented by index point perforations located in differential positions in the several card columns, each column ordinarily representing one character which may be either a number or a letter. There are two systems of representing characters in the card columns. The simple one consists of representing each character by a single perforation in a column in whichcase, obviously the number of characters whichv may be designated is limited to the actual number of index point positions in the card column. The other system consists in representing a single character by one or more index points in which case the capacity of the card column is enormously increased as each index point position may represent a character by itself and may also enter into combination with any other index point or points in the column to represent a' diflferent character. y

The cards are fed through the machine automatically and analyzed by suitable mechanism which in turn controls the accumulating and printing devices of the machine so that the data represented by theperforations in the card may be accumulated and printed.

The cards ma be analyzed while they are at rest or while t ey are in motion and while the present'system is designed for either type of analysis and for single or combinational hole perforation systems, it is shown for the sake of illustration only in connection with single perforation analysis while the cards are in 1 motion.

The controlling records are usually divided into groups representin difierent classifica-' tions, the group classi cation being repre-' sented in each card by similarly located perfo-' the card feed for the purpose of taking totals or performing other operations when the group changes. This is ordinarily accom- 'plished by providing two sets of brushes which are spaced apart so that one card feeds to one of them as the precedin card feeds to the other so that the same in ex point positions on successive cards are under the two analyzing mechanisms simultaneously.

Tabulators which analyze and control with the records in motion are ordinarily of the electrical type andthe analyzing mechanism consists of brushes cooperating with individual contacts. The cards are fed between the brushes and their cooperating contacts to hold an electric circuit open as long as there are no perforations in the card but to permit engagement of each brush with its cooperating contact through the card when it encounters a perforation on the card.

In machines of the moving card type a single row of brushes usually sufiices to completely analyze each card, these brushes of course, searching the several index point p0 sitions at differential times and difierentially controlling the adding and printing mechanism to enter items therein according to the differential time at which the circuit is made at the analyzing brushes. The automatic control system may consist of a circuit including the two sets of analyzing brushes in series and if the cards under the two sets of brushes contain identical controlling perforations'th'is circuit will be closed at some time in the machine cycle serving to keep the card feed active to feed another card during the succeeding card feeding cycle. If the controllingperforations are not identical in successive cards, this series circuit fails to make and the machine either stops or automatically takes a total of the data entered into the accumulators. This system, however, is limited ordinarily to the simpler system of character designation in which each character consists of asingle index perforation.

The present invention contemplates a. system of automatic control which may be used to analyze cards either in motion or at. rest and of either a single or combinational system of character designation. The control circuit which determines whether or not the machine shall feed cards during the successive card feeding cycle is controlled from a series of magnets, a single magnet being provided for each controlling card column which are Wired through each of the analyzing brushes for a given card column to one side of the line. These magnets cooperate with their respective armatures which may serve to con trol the contacts in control circuit directly or if so desired, through the medium of a supplemental control relay. Each relay is shunted by a resistance, the equi-resistance point of which is wired to the other side of the line. When the perforations in successively fed cards agree there will be no difference in potential across the terminals of the relay magnet and the magnet will, therefore, not be energized. Whenever the perforations in successively fed cards disagree current will flow through only one part of the resistance and the current through the relay magnet caused by the difference in potential will cause the magnet to attract its armature to-open contacts which are in series with main control relay circuit. The machine will. thereupon, either stop after the entry of the data from the card under. the vlower brushes or automatically institute total tak- The two sets of control brushes according to the present invention may furthermore be of the same electrical polarity whereby either set may be used for printing or adding control if desired.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved automatic control device for record controlled accounting 'machines adapted for either single or combinational hole designations and to provide an improved form of mechanism and arrangement of parts for this purpose.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of an automatic control device which is flexible so as to permit one or more card columns to be used for automatic controlling and to generally simplify the construction of the control device and materially reduce the number'of parts heretofore employed for this purpose.

A further object of the present invention is to so organize the elements comprising the automatic control that one of said elements may inherently constitute the factor which determines the time constant of the controlling circuit. 7

Another object of the present invention is to provide a single automatic control device for controlling machinev operation in combination with a plurality of controlling devices associated with one or more card columns.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic controlling device for record controlled accounting machines employing either the single or combinational controlling the operation in accordance with like or unlike card columns. I

These and incidental objects which will be pointed out hereinafter will be clear from the following detailed description which should be read 1n connection with the accompanying drawing in'which there is shown a diagrammatic representation of the control system in combination with a tabulator card feed.

While as stated above the system is applicable to existing machines operating either on stationary or moving cards and in connection with single or combinational systems it has been shown as applied to a machine of the single index point type in which cards are adapted to be analyzed while in motion. The particular type of machine does not enter into the present invention asany other form of machines in which single or combinational hole cards are analyzed while at rest or in motion would serve the-purpose of explanation and embodiment equally as well. Referring now to the drawing, a stack of cards to be analyzed is indicated at 150 which are adapted to be advanced by a picker 151 operated by an arm 152 into cooperative relationship with a pair of feeding rolls 153. The picker feeds one card at a time to the rolls 153 which advance it during one machine cycle to the upper or control analyzing brushes 154 and during a later machine cycle to the lower or adding analyzing brushes 169. The rolls and feed mechanism aredriven from a shaft 156 rotated by the tabulating motor TM and a gear train indicated generally-by 157. The usual form of card feed clutch (not shown) controlled -by a relay magnet 55 is interposed in the system to effect card feed only at given times as is customary in machines of this nature. Current to the tabulating motor TM for feeding cards is supplied from a suitable source 81, which when closed, supplies current to the left side of line 82 and right side of line 83. The tab; ulating motor TM is started in operation by depressing the start key 80. Current then flows through the TM motor, a relay 7 04, card feeding clutch magnet 55, motor relay 85, start key 80, contacts 86, now closed, emergency stop key 87 now closed, to binder post 9, thence through upper cam contacts P3 now closed, to binder post 12 on the other side of the line 83.

The above has energized the clutch magnet 55,engaged'the customary one revolu and 84 thereby energizing these relays.

tion clutch thereby through the machine.

starting cards feeding upper card lever contacts 63 and another line extends to cam contacts T1. From T1 a line also extends to cam contacts L6. After the tabulator motor has operated to a certain amount T-1 closes establishing a circuit to binder post 9. As soon as the upper card lever contacts 63 have closed another holding circuit isestablished from these contacts to terminal 90, thence to contacts 86, stop key 87, to binder post 9. The card lever contacts 63 maintain the operation of the tabulator provided 'a relay'84 which controls contacts 86 remains energized. If either 86, 63 or 87 are opened the tabulator will be stopped at the end of the cycle when cam contacts T1 open, the operation being .continued up to that time.

As in previous machines, prior'to starting up any tabulator operation a resetting cycle is carried out. On a resetting operation such as one manually initiated before starting the tabulator, lower cam contacts' P3 make establishing a circuit 707 to control relays 91 After control relay 91 is energized a stick circuit is established through the relay armature, cam contacts C-1 and by wire 741 back to binder post 12. Cam contacts C1 break once per'card cycle, but during the time that these contacts break there is a second holding circuit through the armature of relay 91 and through a control circuit 74 and back by wire 741 to binder post 12. This circular is maintained until card groups change. Following the breaking of circuit 74 the tabulator motor is maintained in operation until cam contacts C1 open whereupon control relays 91 and 84 are deenergized and the tabulator is stopped as previously described.

The present devices whereby the automatic control of the machine is eflected by control of the circuit 74 will now be described. The automatic control of the circuit 74 may include a pair of contacts 158 which are normally kept closed by a bell crank lever 159 normally latched in place by a lever 160. An extension of lever 160 carries a rod 161 overlying one of a series of armatures 1620f relays 163.

Any number of relays may be provided to control any desired column or columns. Relays 163 are shunted by resistances R the mid point of which is connected to one side of the line 82 by a wire 164. The mid point referred to divides the resistance R into sections of equal value. The terminals of relay 163 are in series connection with upper and.

lower brushes 154 "and 169 respectively of a particular card column when suitable plug connections are effected. The terminals of the relay are connected to pairs of plug sockets 165 and 166. Contact of upper brushes 154 with contact plug sockets 172 is made .throughthe perforationsv on the cards, suitable wire connections 17 3 connecting plug sockets 172 to plug sockets 174. Similarly lower brusli' es 169 contact with plugs 175 by perforations in the cards, plugs 175 being connected .to plug sockets 176 by connecting wires 177.

For automatic control in any desired column suitable plug connections are made from the related plu sockets 165 and 166 to the plug sockets 1 4 and 176 of the column lIlfWl'llCll CODtI'Ol is to be made from. An example of one of such connections is shown in the drawings in dotted lines.

The bars which carry brushes 154 and 169 are connected to binder post 11 through con- 'tacts T-5 and wire 167'. Contacts. T-5 make and break once for each machine cycle, making just prior to the adding portion of the cycle and breaking afterthe adding portion but before the card completely clears the brushes. From the binder post 11 the circuit extends through lower card lever contacts 64, cam contacts T-1 to binder post 9, or alternatively through cam contacts L6 and Y2, thence through cam contacts P-'3.

to binder post 12 to one side 83 of the. line.

Magnets 163 attract when energized their related armatures 162. When so moved the rod 161 is elevated rocking lever 160 to'release bell crank 159 thereby releasing contacts 158 to permit them to open under their own resiliency.- The control circuit 74 when open'remains open until it is-restored by a cam 17 9. v

This cam 179 may be-made to rotate when the restoring action is necesary by a one revolution clutch or similarmechanism after all necessary operations have been performed in connection with the last card of the group which is now under the lower brushes. Consequently all contacts 158 will be closed at the beginning of each cycle in which cards are actually fed.

As premised hereinbefore, the resistances R are shunted across the relay magnets. As

long as'xthe perforations in the card columns agree there will be no'difierence in potential at the terminals of the relay magnet and consequently the magnet will not attract its armature 162. As soon as one of the analyzing brushes 154 and 169 encounters a perform tion when the other does not encounter a perforation a difference in potential at the relay magnet terminals will be established and the or begin automatic total taking, as desired,

owing to the opening of cam contacts C'1 which deenergizes motor control relay 84 to open the motor control contacts 86 and cause the tabulating motor TM to cease operation at the end of the cycle on the opening of cam contacts T1.

As the cam 179 rotates in the direction of the arrow it will first strike a roller carried by the bell crank. 159 rocking the latter to subsequently close contacts 158. Lever 160 may be restored to the position where it latches bell crank lever 159 by gravity or spring action but it is preferably returned positively. To this end an upward extension of lever 160 carries a roller also coacting with cam 179 so that as the high point of the latter coacts with the roller lever 160 and ,the attracted armature 162 will be positively restored.

Attention is directed to the fact that in order to insure the instantaneous controllin action by relays 163 it is essential that the time constant of the circuit be so selected that energization or deenergization of the magnets will be practically instantaneous to afford a quick operation of the various control.- ling relays. The time constant desired is usually obtained by properly proportioning the inductance and resistance in the circuit and in order to have this factor the proper value auxiliary resistances are ordinarily connected in the circuit. The present arrangement provides for this since in every case where a difference in potential exists between the relay terminals the current will pass through the ma net 163 and through one of the portions 0% the resistance R and since there is a portion of the resistance which is in series with the coil there is provided the necessary amount of resistance to ive the required fast operating circuit. hus the present arrangement dispenses with the aux- I illiary resistance usually provided and inherently provides for the proper time constant of the circuit.

Switch 708 is an automatic control switch which is opened when the machine is running under automatic control and closed when the automatic control is to be cut out of operation. When the switch 708 is open and perforations in the cards at the upper and lower brushes disagree the tabulating motor TM will be stopped in the manner previously described and a resetting and total.

taking operation may then be performed automatically or initiated manually.

If automatic initiation is desired switch'232 is first closed. The cam contacts L-l close momentarily toward the end of each tabulating cycle. Contacts 234 are in series with contacts L1 and controlled by the card feed clutch so that if the clutch is to disengage at the end of the cycle these contacts will close establishing a circuit to the resetting motor RM traced as follows: from left side of line 82, reset motor RM, binder post 2, reset clutch magnet 233, binder post 3, contacts 235 closed toward the endof the last tabulating cycle,

binder post 4, contacts L 1,-binder post 5, switch 232, stop key 87, back to binder post 9 to the other side of line 83. The energization as follows: from binder post 2, reset clutch' magnet 233, through contacts 235, binder post 6, thence through contacts L-2 now closed, up' to binder post 12 and back to the right side of the line. While reset 'motor RM is rotatin and reset magnet 233 energized, the

usual orm of clutch member will rotate a reset shaft and reset the totalizers to zero but prior to such resetting the printing of the total standing upon the totalizers maybe effected by the usual form of mechanism provided for this purpose. 1

Cam contacts P-l serve at the proper time in the resetting cycle to establish a circuit 240 to binder post'6 to shunt out reset magnet 233. These contacts serve to maintain the reset motor RM in operation until the end of the reset cycle and upon being opened interrupt the resetting operation bringing the reset motor to rest. Just before the resetting operation is completed contacts P4 close. The closure of these contacts provided the automatic start switch 241 is previously closed establishes a circuit through themotor relay to restart the tabulating of the next group. This circuit is traced as follows: from left side of line 82 through tabulator motor TM, relay 704, clutch magnet 55, relay coil 85, auto start switch 241, closed, binder post 7, contacts P4 now closed, binder post 11, lower card lever contacts 64 closed and upper card lever contacts 63, motor relay contacts The invention has been described in connection with" a single operative-embodiment thereof but it will be understood that many modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention,

therefore, to be limited, only as indicated by v the scope of the following claims:

1. In an automatic control system for a record control machine comprising in combicombination means nation analyzing means for analyzing index point designations on controlling records, a pair of circuits controlled by said analyzing means controlled by said index point designations, a relay magnet in circuit connection with said analyzing means adapted to control machine operation and means cooperating with said relay magnet comprising a resistance adapted to prevent energizatlon of said magnet when the perforations in successively fed cards agree. 2. In a tabulating machinecomprising in combination means or comparing successively fed cards said means comprising a circuit which is adapted to be completed through the perforations of cards if said perforations agree, a magnet in saidcircuit adapted to control machine operation, and means for preventing energization of said magnet when the perforations in successively fed cards agree.

3. In a tabulatin machine comprising in $01 comparing successively fed-cards said means comprising a circuit which is adapted to be completed through the perforations if said cards agree, a relay magnet in said circuit adapted to control machine operation and means whereby said magnet is energized to alter machine operation only when the perforations in successively fed cards disagree.

4. In a tabulating machine comprising in combination means for comparing successively fed cards said means comprising a circuit which is adapted to be completed through the perforations if said cards agree, a relay magnet in said circuit adapted to control machine operation and means comprising. a resistance in circuit connection with said relay whereby said magnet is ener 'zed to alter machine operation only when t e perforations in successively fed cards disagree.

5. In a tabulating machine comprising in combination means or comparing successlve- 1y fed cards said means comprising a circuit which is adapted to be completed through the perforations of said cards 1f the perforations are alike, a relay magnet in said circuit adapted to alter machine operation and means whereby said relay magnet is responsive or non-responsive in accordance with unlike or like perforations, respectively, in successively fed cards.

6. In a tabulatin machine comprising in cgmbination means or comparing successively fed cards said means comprising a circuit which is adapted to be completed through the perforations if said cards of the perforations are alike, a relay magnet in said circuit adapted to determine the ensuing type of machine operation, and a resistance in shunt with said relay" magnet adapted to cause said relay to be responsive or non-responsive in accordance wlth unlike or like erforations, respectively, in successively fe cards.

a controlling device cooperating with said relay adapted to determine .whether or not sald relay magnet is energized during the passage of unlike or like cards.

8. In a tabulating machine comprising in combination means for comparing successively fed cards said means comprising a circuit which is adapted to be completed through the perforations of said cards if the perforations are alike, a relay magnet in said circuit and a controlling device comprising a resistance in shunt with said relay magnet adapted to determine whether or not said relay magnet is energized during the passage of unlike or like cards.

9. In a tabulating machine comprising in combination means for comparing successively fed cards said means comprising a circuit which is adapted to be completed through the perforations of said cards 11 the perforations agree, a relay magnet in said circuit adapted to control machine operation, and means comprising a pair of resistances of equal value in shunt with said magnet for controllin the energization of said magnet in accor ance with like or unlike perforations of successive ly fed cards.

10. In an automatic control device for tabulating machines comprising acontrol circuit, a relay magnet in said circuit, and a subdivided resistance in shunt with said magnet In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my signature.

JAMES w. BRYCE. 

